The Comparison of Attachment styles, Satisfaction of Basic Psychological Needs, and Social Health in Substance-Dependent People and Normal People

The aim of this study was to compare the attachment styles, satisfaction of basic psychological needs and social health of substance-dependent and normal people.

The present study was causal-comparative. The statistical population of the study included all substance-dependent patients admitted to residential treatment centers and normal people in Morvdasht city in 2024, of which 106 people were selected in two groups of substance-dependent (n = 53) and normal people (n = 53), using convenience sampling method and answered the questionnaires of attachment style, satisfaction of basic psychological needs, and social health. The data were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance.

The results showed that normal people had higher secure attachment than substance-dependent people. People with substance dependence showed more insecure avoidant and ambivalent attachment styles, lower levels of satisfaction of basic psychological needs in the three dimensions of autonomy, competence and connection; and lower social health in the four dimensions of flourishing, solidarity, acceptance and participation compared to normal people.

Attachment styles and the lack of satisfaction of basic psychological needs are factors underlying addiction, and a lower level of social health in substance-dependent people compared to normal people is one of the symptoms and consequences of addiction.